The Beverly High Panthers have a very different look this season.
Scrapping the spread offense they've used the past few seasons, head coach Dan Bauer and new offensive coordinator Roger Day have installed a new Wing-T system. Beverly is coming off a successful 7-3 season, and Bauer expects the winning tradition to continue even though graduation took a big toll on the senior-laden 2009 squad that featured 21 seniors.
"The Wing-T is a big change that requires a lot of adjustments," said Bauer. "As always, when you put in a new system you have to give it time. It takes a while to understand the techniques our backs and line need to make it work. Our staff is prepared and the players are committed to making it work."
Day came to Beverly after spending the last nine years at Danvers High. Seven of those seasons were spent as the Falcons' offensive coordinator and the last two as offensive consultant. Prior to Danvers (where the Wing-T is also used), Day was the offensive coordinator in Marblehead for 12 seasons.
One of Beverly's strengths this year is its offensive line with five returning senior starters, including 6-foot-2, 285-pound co-captain George Kallas. Other starters back are Alex Ego (6-4, 245), Alex Traicoff (6-1, 210), George Kastrinakis (5-10, 210) and Anthony MacDonald (6-0, 180). Senior Andrew Cannata (6-1, 245) is a returning letterman who plays on the offensive and defensive lines.
Bauer will use Kallas and Ego at tackle, with Cannata and Traicoff are the guards and Kastrinakis is the center.
Kallas will anchor the defensive line along with Ego at tackle while Traicoff, Kastrinakis and MacDonald are all back at defensive end. MacDonald is the leading returning tackler with 70 (including 10 for losses) and three sacks as a junior, while Kastrinakis had 47 tackles (with four for losses).
"Our biggest strength is depth at the line positions," said Bauer, who is looking to post his fifth straight winning campaign. "One of our main concerns is experience at some positions, especially skill spots where players need to adjust to our new offense. We'll need to develop depth."
Senior co-captain Joe Wioncek will play a key role as the starting quarterback and linebacker. He saw considerable playing time at QB last fall when senior Mark Hannable was injured to start the season. The 5-9, 180-pound Wioncek completed 42 of 79 passes for 463 yards and four TDs last season.
Junior running backs Nick Quartarone (5-10, 195) and Nick Theriault (5-7, 175) are key returning lettermen who will figure prominently in the running game. So will promising sophomore Brendan Flaherty, who came up to the varsity late last season as a ninth grader.
Quartarone is also a linebacker who had 42 tackles and a sack as a sophomore, while Theriault will be used at outside linebacker.
Senior Chris Mitchell (5-9, 165) and junior Blake Sullivan (6-0, 165) got playing time at wide receiver a year ago. Mitchell is also a defensive back while Sullivan plays linebacker. Junior tight end/linebacker Mark Giles (5-11, 185) will also play a big role.
Panther Paws
Last year's record: 7-3
Head coach: Dan Bauer (8th season, 42-32)
Team captains: George Kallas, Sr. OL/DL; Joe Wioncek, Sr. QB/LB
Top returning rusher: Nick Theriault (357 yards, 3 TDs)
Top returning passer: Joe Wioncek (463 yards, 4 TDs)
Top returning receiver: Chris Mitchell (39 yards, 0 TD)
Last league title: 2006 (Northeastern Conference Small)
Did you know?: Beverly will play its first Friday night football game under the (temporary) lights at Hurd Stadium on Oct. 15 vs. Danvers. Last year, the first-ever home night game was a non-leaguer against Melrose in a rare Thursday season opener.
2010 Schedule
DateOpponentTime
Sept. 11Concord-Carlisle1 p.m.
Sept. 17at Melrose7 p.m.
Sept. 24at Lynn English5 p.m.
Oct. 1at Gloucester7 p.m.
Oct. 9Lynn Classical1 p.m.
Oct. 15Danvers7 p.m.
Oct. 22at Winthrop7 p.m.
Oct. 30at Saugus1 p.m.
Nov. 6Marblehead2 p.m.
Nov. 13Swampscott1 p.m.
Nov. 25Salem10 a.m.
